"It was in the afternoon and I went back to my trailer and I did my crying and called my people," she said. "A whole bunch of people came into my trailer to give me hugs and cry with me and tell me they were so sad I was leaving. I was supposed to be shadowing Kevin this whole episode with the hope that I would get to direct an episode of Grey's but [after being let go] it seemed like wasn't a possibility anymore."

Drew said ultimately, with the help of those close to her, she learned to get back on her feet.

"I wondered if I should keep shadowing Kevin," she said. "My husband was like, ‘Of course you go.' I had this incredible opportunity to grow as a director and as an artist with a director that I respect so much. I had nothing to be ashamed of and didn't need to hide. So that's what I did: I showed up the next morning at 6 a.m. and shadowed Kevin."

Drew admitted her release was "painful" but said she's learned to see it as an opportunity.

"I don't regret or begrudge anybody this season of my life," she said. "I'm embracing it. I had a profound and incredible season of my life on Grey's Anatomy. I got to tell stories I believed in. I got to work with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers and learn from the best. I got to work with an incredible community of people that I will have lifelong friendships with," she said. "I got to build a platform and have my children in an environment where I was cared for because of who Shonda is and how she takes care of her mamas and her women. It's hard for me to come up with anything I could be angry about."